Historian; the History of the Indies: Prologue: Why he wrote History. A portrait of Columbus. The verdict of Salamanca. San Salvador. Reception in Barcelona. The conquest of Cuba. Magellan and his globe. The character of Cortes. --
Autobiographer; autobiography in the History of the Indies: "Are not the Indians men?" The conversion of Las Casas. First battles at court. Black slaves in the New World. Las Casas joins the Dominicans. --
Anthropologist; the Apologetic history: The rationality of the American Indian. A description of Cuba. The ill effects of sadness and fear. Indian houses, featherwork, and silverwork. The marketplace of Mexico City. A volcano in Nicaragua. The meanings of "barbarous." --
Political thinker, memorials and treatises: A New World utopia. The "Only method" of converting the Indians. A "Very brief account" of Spanish cruelty. Abolish the encomienda! The duty of reparation. A defense of human sacrifice. The restoration of the Indies. A declaration of human rights. --
Bibliography (p. [203]-206).